The statement that “experience is the best teacher” is quite common.

However, what does the Bible say about one of the most popular proverbs in our modern-day culture?

Many times young people and adults alike will feel that unless a parent has done “x”, they do not understand and cannot offer fair and just discipline because they cannot relate.

So if you never slept around when you were younger, how can you say anything to them about sex?

If you never had any alcohol, how can you say they should not drink?

If you never smoked anything, how can you say they should leave the “weed” alone?

The list can go on-and-on, but the comment, “You just don’t understand because you never did it” is applied to many issues.

I’m studying Proverbs in my own personal study right now and if you’re a parent facing that same argument today, perhaps you can be helped by this nugget that jumped out to me from the NET Bible Study, UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WISDOM – The Book of Proverbs:

“At creation God set two ways before man. He gave man a choice between developing his 

“soul” powers by eating of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil,” or developing his “spirit”
power by eating of the “tree of life.” You know how Adam and Eve choose!

Today, man has the same choice, he can develop his “soul-power” . . . [that is, his
intellect, his emotions, and his volition powers] . . . or, he can develop his “spirit-power” – by
feeding upon, and assimilating, the principles of God’s Word – principles which are found in the
book of Proverbs!

The principles found in the book of Proverbs enables one to discern between good and
evil by the discerning of the spirit . . . and not by experiences. Learning “good and evil” by
experience was never the learning method God intended for man. God original intention for man
was never to know evil “by experience,” but, rather, he was to learn of good and evil only by the
discerning of his “spirit.” This was the test God put man too in the very beginning. Learning
“good and evil” by means of one’s spirit-power in order to make proper judgments is what the
book of Proverbs is all about!”